Material distributor



March 12, 194o E, MASTERS 2,193,253

MATERIAL DISTRIBUTOR Filed Feb. 26. 1937 Patented Mar. 12, 1940 'rsNTorrics MATERIAL Drs'ralno'ron Edwin L. ll/Iasters,` Chicago, Ill.Application February 26, 1937Serial No. 127.934 2 oiaims. (o1. 2754.2)

This invention relates to material distributors or spreaders, andparticularly `to a device of the character described, which is suitablyconstructed forl spreading or distributing various materials such asfertilizer, sand, top soil, grass seeds and the like.

The structure of the present invention is particularly adaptedforspreading or distributing various materials such as fertilizers orsoils, which are in finely divided, powdered or granulated form, andalso for sowing seeds 4of various kinds.

One object ,of the present invention is to provide adistributor which islight, durable and capable of being operated, preferably by hand, forthe distribution of materials such as powdered fertilizer and seeds ofvarious kinds on lawns,l

golf courses,iparks, and the like.

Another object of the .invention is to provide a device by whichsubstantially even or uni- `form distribution of thel material may beobtained.

Another object of the invention is to provide Y means forfshielding thematerial to be distributed from the broadcasting effect of windcurrents, and to insure'a substantially uniform deposit of the materialonthe ground.

- Another object of the invention is to provide i receptacle whereby areceptacle containing material may be transported to the place ofdistribution without distributing any of the material, and

Awherein the closure member, when positioned to` permit distribution ofthe material, serves as a baffle orshield to prevent unrestrictedbroadcast-` ing or scattering of the material by windcurtakensubstantially as indicated by the line I-I of Fig. 2,illustrating an embodiment of the lpres` ent invention, and showingby'full and dotted *lines Various positions of thesupplemental closuremember and actuating meansassociated therewith; I V l Fig. 2 is a front'elevational view of the struc- 5 ture illustrated in Fig. l as Viewedfrom the lefthand side thereof, a portion of'Fig. 2 beingz broken awayto more clearly illustrate certain portions of the container structure;and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view 10 'illustrating variousfeatures of the structure i Yshown in Figs. 1 and `2.

The illustrative embodiment of the present invention comprises areceptacle or hopper-like `of the front `and rear side walls il and llbeing spaced apart to `provide an elongated `opening i i adjacent thelower portion of the container. For partially closing the opening li, aplurality ofl elongated closure strips l2 and I3 are provided, therespective strips having perforaticns or `apertures It formed thereinand adapted to be vinterchangeably and individually secured in theopening Il, the apertures in the respective strips being of relativelydifferent sizes adapted for proper distribution of various kindsof'material to be distributed;

The closure strip l2 is shown, rin the present `instance,` as removablysecured adjacent the opening il by means of a ange i5 at one sidethereof on which one edge portion of the strip i2 rests, andat theopposite side of the opening` Ii .is a removable plate It having aflange Il" 5 formedthereon adapted to support the opposite longitudinaledge portion of the strip, the plate It being removably secured to therear side wall of the container 5 by means of wing-nuts i3, as shown inFigs. l and 3, the remaining strips I3, when not usedlin the opening Il,are conveniently supported and carried by brackets i9 mounted onthefront side Wall 8 of the container as clearly illustrated in Figs. l and2.

` For supporting and transporting the container li from place to `placeand over the surface to be treated, a shaft 2l extending longitudinallythroughout the length of the container is rotatably mounted in the endwalls 6 and l thereof and provided at its `outer ends with supporting 0wheels 22 and 23 secured to the shaft, in the present instance, by meansof pins 24 and 25, respectively. i

. For preventing clogging and packing .of `mate- 55 rial within thecontainer 5, and for facilitating the discharge of material therefrom,an agitator, indicated as a whole by the numeral 26, comprising aplurality of longitudinally extending substantially parallel annularlyspaced rods 2'! mounted in a plurality of discs 23 which are rigidlysecured to the shaft 2l by means of a pin 29.

For conveniently moving the container 5 from place to place andduringdistribution of material therefrom, a handle, indicated as a wholeby the numeral 3l, is provided, and comprises a hand-piece 32 and aplurality of brace mem-v bers 33 shown, in the present instance, aschannel irons secured by means of bolts 34 to the hand-piecev 32, and tothe container 5 by means of bolts 35.

For retaining the material to be distributed within the container 5 andto prevent discharge of the material therefrom through the apertures lliof the closure strips l2 and I3 during transportationof the containerfrom place to place or to the place of distribution, a supplementalclosure member 35 is' shown, in the present instance, as pivotallymounted at 3l to the container 5 adjacent 'the opening H in the lowerportion thereof, the free edge 38 of the member 36 being connected toone end of a rod 39 for actuating and controlling the position of themember 36, the rod 39 being shown, in the present instance, as supportedadjacent its opposite end by a hanger 4l mounted on the hand-piece 32 ofthe handle 3|.

To provide a snugly tting closure for preventing the discharge ofmaterial from the apertures It during transportation of the device, thesupplemental closure member St is provided with a laterally recessedportion at one side and adjacent its longitudinal central portion asindicated at 3M, thereby providing a laterally oiset portion at itsopposite side adapted to snugly engage ther strip i2 between the stripsupporting ilanges l5 and il' in a manner to completely and closelycover the apertures I4 of the strip l2.

Pivotally connected to the rear end of the rod 39 is a link 42 extendingthrough a ring 43 mounted on the handle 3l, the link 42 having a loopL34 and a laterally extending projection 45 formed adjacent its end atthe rear side of the ring 43 and adapted to engage the ring in a mannerto position the closure member 36 in a substantially vertical positionwith its lower or free edge portion 38 relatively close to the ground asshown by full lines in Fig. l in a manner to serve as a shield or baillefor preventing wind or air currents from broadcasting or scattering thematerial as it is discharged from the perforations or apertures i4 on tothe ground.

Mounted also on the hand-piece 32 of the hanor other convenient placeand adapted to receive an instruction card or sheet 48 containinginstructions as to the various strips I2 and I3 best adapted for use inthe distribution of various materials.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the presentinvention provides a-novel -construction and arrangement fordistributing various materials, wherein substantially uniformdistribution of the material may be obtained, and wherein .means areprovided for controlling the quantity of the respective materials to bedeposited or spread.

Also that, thepresent invention provides novel means, whereby thereceptacle containing material may be transported to the place ofdistribution without distributing any of the material, and wherein thesaid means serves as a baiiie or shield to prevent unrestrictedbroadcasting or scattering of the material by Wind or air currents.

Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the preciseconstruction and arrangement shown and described as the same may bevariously modified. Moreover, all the features of the invention need notbe used conjointly as the same may be used to advantage in variouslydifferent combinations and sub-combinations;

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a material distributor, the combination of a hopper-like containerhaving an elongated opening adjacent its lower portion, supportingwheels, a shaft secured to said Wheels and rotatably mounted in saidcontainer, anhandle secured to the container, an elongated agitatorsecured to said shaft within said container adjacent said opening, aperforated closure strip positioned'in by said handle, and relativelyspaced securing members on said handle and operatively related to saidactuating means for positioning the closure member adjacent theperforated closure strip in said opening for closing the perforationstherein, and for positioning the closure member' in substantiallyvertical position to serve as a shield for preventing wind currents fromscattering the material discharged from the container through saidperforations.

2. in a material distributor, the combination of an elongatedhopper-like container having an elongated opening adjacent its lowerportion, a perforatedy closure strip mounted in said opening and adaptedto be readily removable therefrom, a removable flange member andmanually actuated means cooperable therewith and mounted on thecontainer for rigidly securing said closure strip in said opening andagainst accidental displacement with respect thereto, and a supplementalclosure member hingedly connected to" said container adjacent saidopening and adapted to be swung into operative relation with respect toYthe perforated closure, strip positioned in said opening for closingthe perforations therein.

EDWIN L. MASTERS.

